Deal on Brexit bill

After months of wrangling about the UK's Brexit payments to the EU a compromise has apparently been reached. According to media reports London has agreed to pay between 45 and 55 billion euros. The British were deceived about the cost of Brexit, commentators rail, and see Prime Minister Theresa May further weakened.

The British must bite the bullet

In the medium term at least, the UK will end up paying more than ever to the EU, the Evening Standard fumes:

“At least when we made annual contributions we were paying for ongoing membership of the largest single market in the world, and getting a seat at the table to influence the direction of the EU. Instead, we’re handing all that money over in the hope that we get a trade deal with the EU that is half as good as the one we already have with them. We have no choice - and it would be even worse to have no deal. We were told by Brexiteers we’d be getting money back and that £350 million a week could go to the NHS. Today we know that was one of the biggest cons in British political history.”

Let the British vote again!

Politiken also believes British voters were deceived when they went to the polls in 2016:

“We know that it was a lie when the Brexit advocates claimed that every day over 400 million extra kroner [54 million euros] would flow into the British healthcare system once Britain had rid itself of the EU treaties. They themselves have admitted it. We also know it was wishful thinking to believe that Brexit would stimulate the economy. ... So they are guilty of electoral fraud. British voters have good reason to feel cheated. So they should be allowed to take a fresh stand on Britain's leaving the EU: let them vote again once the concrete terms of the separation are on the table. ... That would be proof of an enlightened democracy, and far better than clinging to the result of electoral fraud.”

Brussels has won the first round

The struggling British prime minister has received yet another blow, La Vanguardia comments:

“The British government had no choice but to accept the bill presented by Brussels despite Theresa May's repeated promises that she would leave the negotiating table rather than pay an exorbitant sum. Who knows what concessions the UK will receive in the future, but right now all it is getting is frustration and laments. The EU has secured a high price for the divorce thanks to an intelligent strategy: no negotiations about future trade and financial relations until the question of how much compensation it would receive from Britain had been resolved. ... This is not good news for 10 Downing Street's weakened tenant. The first chapter of the Brexit is drawing to a close. And Brussels has clearly won the first round.”